NASCAR driver relives crash, flipping his car

TALLADEGA, Ala. - As AJ Allmendinger sat upside down in his No. 47 Chevrolet on the track at Talladega Superspeedway, one thought was going through his mind.

"Get me the hell back over."

Allmendinger was fighting for the lead of the GEICO 500 with fewer than 20 laps remaining in the race when he tapped Chase Elliott's No. 24 car and ignited an 18-car wreck, sending himself - and Elliott - in the air and ultimately flipping upside down.

After being cleared by the in-field care center - a NASCAR requirement for drivers who crash and don't finish the race - Allmendinger said he was disappointed more than anything, but that's what happens when drivers battle for the lead at Talladega.

"The actual flight was nice - it's better than some of the flights we take back home so that wasn't too bad," he joked after being released from the care center.

"It's just once you get stuck on your roof, it's just kind of panic mode sets in and you see fluids leaking and just (get) scared that it's going to catch on fire. So the safety crew was there quick. I can't thank them enough. They got the car back over pretty quick, so just unfortunate."

Other drivers involved in the wreck include Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Danica Patrick and Kurt Busch. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ultimately won the GEICO 500 for his first Cup Series victory in 158 starts.

Allmendinger - an 11-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran - said the severity of the impact "wasn't that bad," all things considered. He said he would have even climbed out of the car - although he didn't have much room with a damaged window - but the track's safety team got to him quickly.

"I've flipped here a couple of times," Allmendinger said. "I've laid on the ground enough here, so I'm not a big fan of this place."